Expanding machine



ay 29, 923. v 1,456,734

C. G. GROTNES EXPANDING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet I """Wl 1| MUM jvzflaiziai 6%4/767 Kiwi/m5 1,456,734 C. G. GRQTNES EXPANDING MACHINE Filed April 22. 1920 3 Sheets-She'et 5 Patented May 29, 19.23.

warren srareis r mean-e PATENT gp mg CHARLES e. Gno'rNEs, OF CHICAGO, i LINoIs:

EXPANDING, MAQHINE.

Application filed A ri122, 1920. Serial'NoZ 375,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. GRo'rNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanding Macl1ines, of which thefollowing is a specification. 3

-The invention is herein shown as embodied in machinery for forming the'rims of vehicle wheels and more'specifically in means for bringing such a rim to exact shape and size by deforming thematerial by outward pressure.

Especially where the rims or parts handled are large and heavy, convenience in handling them is an importantfactor in the cost of production. Machines having their operating parts mounted on anaxis slightly inclined upward from the horizontal, as disclosed inmy Patent No. 1,407,-

148, dated Feb. 21, 1922, require a minimum amount of'labor on the part of the operator to place the rims in position and remove them again. In a machine of this type, j 5 rigidity is an important factor and sometimes a critical consideration as the'stresses involved i indeforming the 7 material of which a heavy rim is formed are obviously very great. Une object of my invention 1s, to provide a machine for quick and convenient handling of very wide and heavy rims.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the operating parts are very rigidly supported so that wear is minimized line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is'a similar view partly in section on line 5-5 of Fig.". L

The embodiment ofmy invention selected for illustration comprises a suitable sup;

porting frame 10, a main support or jaw table 11 carried by the frame 10, an outboard support 01' bearing 13rigidly supported on themain support, expanding jaws 14, and means for transmitting powerto the jaws to'force them outward.

Each expanding jaw comprises a face portion 16,-a bearing foot 17'having a tongue and groove connection at 19 with the main support and an outer bear ng having a similar tongue and groove connection at 20 with, the outboard bearing; 13. As the weight of one of these expanding jawsmay easily amount to 150 pounds orso, it will beseen that itv m'ustbe supported "at both ends to be rigid enough to .move accurately.

A plunger head 22 is adapted to reciprocate inside the expanding jaws 14 and-is connected to them by toggle links toforce themoutwardand expand the, rim. I To further out, down'unbalanced twist.-

ing force on the jaws and eliminate "wearf of their guiding surfaces and distortionof the jaws themselves, I provide a plurality of toggle links for each jaw suitably spacedalong the jaw so to receive and'resist the contractile force of the rim at points spaced so as to minimize the bendingmoments in the body ,of thejaw itself and practically eliminate any torque 'or twisting action tending to. force the jaw out ofalinement'. I

Each toggle link comprises a central ,por-

tion 23 and spaced perforated ears'25; at both ends. In the space betwe'eno-the-ears 25, the bearingsurfac'e between the pin and thecentral portion '23 slightly less than I one-half the periphery. ofthe pin. The ears 25 encircle the bearing pin 26 and; pro:

' vide a smaller. bearing! surface on the 'op-;

posite'side of the pin. The bearing 'sur face formedin the bearing block 29 carried by the plunger head 22, or in the-jaw 14, as the case may be,-.comprises three "spaced,

bearings (Fig- 2) on one Side adapted -to take compression Ifrom p'in26 and spaced by the ears 25, and twospaced bearing surfaces for the tension at the cndsof the pins on-either side of thetoggle'1ink "said,

bearings being formed by cars 31'projecting from thebody of the bearing block or jaw.

Upon reference to 2, it will be-seen': that a very large part of the entire cross-f sectional area of the'head istakenup by the" jaws, plunger head and toggle links. Itii'ss h r, necessary to provide means for supporting the outboard support 13 rigidly.

I have illustrated a plurality of spacer blocks 32, approximately egg shapedv in cross-section as clearly shownin "Fig-2, abut-- ting at their opposite ends againstthesurfaces of the main support 11 and the outboard bearing 13. Tensionstuds 34 enter-" illustrated in Fig. 0

ing the body of the main support 11 pass through holes in the spacing blocks 82 and in the outboard bearing 13 and carry nuts 35 which may be tightened down to hold the outboard bearing against the spacing blocks and the spacing blocks against the main support 11. These blocks may be designed, as shown, to occupy almost the entire cross sectional area not obstructed by the jaws in their movement, or occupied by the links 23 and the plunger head. To prevent ac cidental rotation of the spacing blocks any suitable means may be provided. I have a small hole 37 in the face of the main bearing and a small projection 38 carried by the spacing block 32 and entering the hole 37. The plunger head 22 is mounted on the drawbar 40 which is slidably supported in circular hearings in the outboard support and in a sleeve 43 carried by the frame 10 and passing centrally through the main sup port 11. The outboard support 13 has a sleeve 44 engaging a circular head piece 46 mounted on the head 22.

The plunger head 22 itself is slidable on the draw bar 40 and upon inward movement I of the draw bar is constrained to move by to dead center.

engagement between its end and the inner face of the draw bar nut 41, which is locked in position by a suitable lock nut 45. Upon outward movement of the plunger to contract the jaws. the plunger head is resiliently held against the drawbar nut 41 by the action of springs 47 coiled around bolts 49 slidable in a ring 5O overlying the head piece 46 and nut 41, said bolts passing through holes in the headpiece 46 being threaded into the plunger head. It will be seen thataccidental blocking or jamming of the expanding jaws so that they cannot contract willmerely compress the springs 47 instead of breaking some part of the machine, which would be the result if there were a positive connection between the plunger head and the plunger. Draw bar nut 41 should preferably be adjusted to move head 22 almost but not quite Should the head 22 be carried below the dead center of the links in the expanding stroke by reason of a poor adjustment of the parts 41 and 45, the springs 47 might not be sufficiently powerful to bring i the head 22 back through dead center and above it into operating relation. Therefore I prefer to form a shoulder 48 on the draw bar 40 at a point where it will engage the inner end of plunger head 22 at the end of the out stroke and move it back to dead center.

The draw bar has a squared end block 52 sliding in guides 53 formed in the frame and is reciprocated by a short bifurcated connecting rod 55 engaging both ends of the pin 56. Any suitable means for rotating the eccentric or crank 58 may be employed. 1 have illustrated pulleys 59 adapted to receive power of this feature have been fully discussed in 1 my copending application above referred to.

While I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is merely for purposes of ill lustration, that many modifications and variations will naturally occur to those skilled in the art and that the invention may be embodied in machines for imparting a desired conformation to various classes of annular objects. I aim in the subjoined claims to coverall such legitimate variations and mod ifications.

I claim as my invention:

1. An expanding machine having, in combination, a main frame, a jaw table secured to the main frame. an outboard support located forwardly of the aw table, members rigidly securing the outboard support to the jaw table, a circular series of radially movable j aws between the jaw table and the outboard support, each of said jaws having at its rear end an outwardly projecting foot having a tongue-and-groove connection with the jaw table, the forward end of each jaw having a tongue-and-groove connection with the outboard support, the members which secure the outboard support to the jaw table being located'within the circle defined by the series of jaws, a drawbar supported in the main frame for movement axially of the series of jaws, a head piece slidablv supported in the outboard support, a member secured to the forward end of the drawbar, a plunger head slidable on the drawbar rearwardly of said member and arranged to be moved rearwardly by said member. links connecting said plunger head to said jaws, a ring arranged to be moved forwardly by said member, and means yieldingly connecting the plunger head to the ring for outward movement.

2. An expanding machine having, in combination, a main frame, a aw table secured to the main frame, an outboard support lo cated forwardly of the jaw table, members rigidly securing the outboard support to the jaw table, a circular series of radially movable aws between the jaw table and the out board. support, the members which. secure the outboard support to the jaw table being located .withinwthe circledefined by the series of. jaws, a drawbar supported for movement axially oftheseries of jaws,'a head piece slidably. supported in theoutboard support, a plunger head on the drawfbarfand links connecting said plunger head to said jaws.

' series oftoggle links connecting each jaw to said plunger head, and means for moving said head. i 1 v 5.;In a device of the class described, a 'plunger'head, a plurality of radially slidable jaws, a plurality of toggle links connecting each'jawto said plungerh'ead, means for reciprocating said head, and bearings for both ends of said aws. I

(SJIn afidevice of the class described, a.

plunger head, a plurality of radially slidable jaws,toggle links connectlng said jaws to said head, a main' support, said jaws being slidably mounted on said main support at one'end, and an outboard support sup-- ported by said main support and providing sliding bearings for the other ends of said jaws.

7. In a device of the class described, a

main support, an outboard support spaced from said main support, a plurality of radially slidable jaws extending between said supports, and stationary elements in the interstices between said jaws forming a structural connection to support said outboard support from saidmain support. I

8. In a device of the class described, a main support, an outboard, support spaced from said main support, a plurality of'radially slidable jaws between said supports and having sliding engagement with both of them, a plunger head, toggle links connecting said jaws to said plunger head, and a plurality of stationary elements extending longitudinally in the interstices and clearance spaces between said jaws and toggle links to rigidly support said outboard sup port from said main support.

9. An expanding machine having, in combination, a main frame, a jaw table secured to the-main frame, an outboard support located forwardly of thejaw table, members rigidly securing the outboard support to'the jaw table, a circular series of radially movable jaws between the jaw table and the outboard support, each of saidjaws having at its rear end an outwardly projecting foot secure the "outboard. support. to .the jaw" port, each of said jaws having-at itsurear having a .tongue and-groove connection with the. aw table,the forward end'of each aw having a tongue-and-groovetconnection wlth the outboard support, the members, which table beinghlocated. within the circler d fined by 'the series of jaws, and meanjs -for moving thejaws. '10. An expanding mach1ne1hav1ng,I-1n combination, awmalnfframe, a aw table se- 1' cured to the main frame, an outboard-supportlocated forwardly of the jaw table, a

circular series of radially movable jaws between the jaw'table and the outboard sup end an outwardly projecting foot having a tongue-and-groove connectionfwith the jaw table, the forward endof eachjaw having a tongue-and-groove connection; with the out:- board support, a drawbar;.s"upported inlthe mainframe for movement axially ofthe series of jaws, and 'meanslconnecting' the drawbartothe jaws." v

- .11.- III'EtL (:leviceofnthev class described, expanding jaws, positive means for transmitting power to said jawsto expand them, and 'means fhaving 'a resilient .lost Emotion connection .fortransmitting power to said jaws to contract them: to the original-position. I -';l2..-In a device: of:the. ;class,.;described, radially movable jaws, a reoiproc-able-eles ment having a toggle connection with said jaws, av draw bar for reciprocating said element, means fixedly mounted on said draw bar to engage the face of said element andmove 1t in one dlrectlon, and means resiliently supported from said element adapted to engage said moving means to move said element in the opposite direction. I i

13. In a device of the class described, a draw bar, a nut fixed on said draw bar,

' a flange at one end of said nut, a head slidable on said draw bar and normally'abutting one side of the flange on said nut, and a ring normally abutting the other side of said flange, said ring being resilientlycon-' nected to said head. s

14. In a device of the class described, a main support and an out board support, a draw bar slidably guided in said main support, ahead slidable on said draw bar and having sliding engagement with said out board support, an oper-atlve conneetlon for transmitting reciprocating movement from reciprocating said draw bar.

15. In a device of the class described, a

1 said draw bar to said head, and means for main support and an, out board support,

a draw bar slidably guided in said main and having sliding engagement with said out board support,an operative connection head in one direction and resiliently in support, a head slidable on said draw bar moving said head in the other direction for transmitting reciprocating movement from said draw bar to said head, and means for reciprocating said draw bar.

16. In a device of the class described, radially movable jaws, a reciprocable element having a toggle connectionwvith said jaws, and means for actuating said element 'unyieldi'ngly in the direction to move the jaws outwardly and yieldingly in the opposite direction. a

17. An expanding machine having, in combination, a main frame, a jaw table secured to the main frame and an outboard support located forwardly of the jaw table, members rigidly securing the outboard sup port to the jaw table, a circular series of radially movable jaws between the jaw table and the outboard support, the members which secure the outboard support to the jaw table being located withinthe circledev fined by the series'of jaws, a drawbar supported in the main frame for movement axially of the series of jaws, and means connecting the drawbar to thejaws.

18. An expanding machine, having, in combination, a main frame, a jaw table secured to the forward side of the main frame, an outboard support located forwardly of the jaw table, members rigidly securing the outboard support to the jaw table, a circular series of radially movable jaws between the jaw" table and the outboard support, the members which secure the outboard support to the jaw table being located within the circle defined by the series of jaws, a drawmovable jaw, a reciprocal element having a toggle connectionwith said jaw, adjustable means for moving said element in the direction to move the jaw outwardly whereby the toggle moves towards dead center and yieldingly in the opposite direction, the ac tuating means having a part adaptedto engage the reciprocal element near the end of the yielding stroke incase of maladjustment of said actuating means, whereby the toggle .is forced back to dead center and therefrom yieldingly carried beyond to retract the jaws. l i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand,

CHARLES e. enorNEs. 

